Today, 7 September, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati as saints in the Roman Catholic Church. These two saints lived a century apart, but their lives mirror each other in their respect for the Eucharist, service to the poor, and the desire for holiness.
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in 1901 in Italy. Himself a man who was clean of heart and a peacemaker, St. Pier Giorgio was called “Man of the Beatitudes” by Pope St. John Paul II for his ability to bring comfort and happiness to the suffering and those most in need of God’s mercy. St. Pier Giorgio Frassati saw many parallels between the Catholic faith and his passion for mountain climbing. He wrote “Verso l’Alto” – “to the heights” on a photograph after what would be his final climb. This simple line expresses the soul’s orientation to the summit of heaven through the grace of the Eucharist – the summit of our faith. “To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth is not living but existing.” – St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. The gentlemen at the former Notre Dame de Lourdes Rectory are members of the Philly Frassati community. Congratulations and blessings!
St. Carlo Acutis was born in 1991 and was raised in Milan, Italy. As a daily Mass congregant, St. Carlo Acutis frequently received the Most Blessed Sacrament. This Eucharistic devotion led to his creation of a database that spotlights the many global Eucharistic Miracles with the goal of emphasizing the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Like St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Carlo Acutis shared God’s vision of service and love of neighbor. “What counts in life is the nobility of the soul, that is, the way one loves God and loves one’s neighbor.” Pope Francis, in speaking of St. Carlo Acutis said: “He saw that many young people, wanting to be different, really end up being like everyone else, running after whatever the powerful set before them with the mechanisms of consumerism and distraction. In this way they do not bring forth the gifts the Lord has given them.” As St. Carlo Acutis phrases it: “Everyone is born as an original, but many people end up dying as photocopies.” The Malvern Retreat House has a shrine to St. Carlo Acutis.
The Notre Dame de Lourdes School Carnival will be held on the school grounds from Thursday 25 September through Saturday 27 September. Please put a statue of the Blessed Mother in the window and thank you for your prayers for good weather. The Carnival Committee is selling raffle tickets for the trip to Florida to see the Phillies. The trip is for airfare and hotel for two from Friday 13 March through Wednesday 18 March and it includes two tickets to the Phillies St. Patrick’s Day game. Tickets are ten dollars. Minimum ticket sales are required for the Spring Training Trip. A cash payout will be provided if the minimum is not met. Thanks!
The Christmas Trees at both Our Lady of Peace and Notre Dame de Lourdes are still decorated with gift ideas for the Toy Wheel, Tombola, and Gift Baskets for our Annual Christmas Bazaar. Thank you to those who have already donated items, we appreciate your thoughtfulness and your generosity. The Christmas Bazaar is on Friday and Saturday 14-15 November. We will extend the Bazaar by one day with our Coffee Sunday with Santa on Sunday 16 November.
On Tuesday evening 7 October at 6:30 pm Chris Brunelle will be at Our Lady of Peace Church for Benediction, Sacred Prayer, and Song. “With his many years of experience, musical talent, and heart for ministry, Chris Brunelle has become a well-known and respected leader in Catholic music ministry both in his hometown of Portland, Oregon and now throughout the world as the result of his YouTube channel. An accomplished guitarist and vocalist, Chris started playing guitar in church as a fourth grader and was leading a parish choir by the time he was sixteen. He is currently the music director at his home parish, Holy Family Catholic Church in Portland, a role he has held for twenty-nine years.” More information about this special event will be forthcoming.
In commemoration of the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi (4 October) we will celebrate the annual Blessing of Animals at 1 pm on Saturday 4 October on the front steps at Our Lady of Peace Church. This cordial gathering of our furry, feathery, equine, and scaly friends affords us a special opportunity to meet the animals of our parish and the parishioners who share space with them. In case of inclemency, we will move to the inside of the Church – not sure how that will work with the equestrians who may join us, but we will see. “All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing.” (St. Francis of Assisi – “Praise be to you, My Lord”)